President George W. Bush used a speech to the National Association of Manufacturers on Thursday to defend his record on the economy and promote his tax cuts, part of his administration's strategy to counter persistent public pessimism about the country's economic health. The president's address came on the same day a report found that Michigan has lost 24% of its manufacturing jobs in the last five years and called on his administration to take tougher action against currency manipulation. "Our policies have worked," Bush told the crowd of about 200 people. "Let me rephrase that: Our policies to enable you to work better have worked." Despite low unemployment and a growing economy, polls consistently have shown a majority of Americans feel the economy is headed in the wrong direction, with rising oil prices, falling home sales and weak median income growth all shouldering some blame.